Sir ー We desire you will order six, or more if needful, of the men from on board the Prosper, to attend Capt. [Edward] Blake, or Mr. [Paul] Pritchard; ship carpenter, and to follow their orders, in weighing the bottom of an old vessel for stopping Marsh channel.
By order of the Council of Safety.
[Charleston] 26th February, 1776.
Henry Laurens, President.
The Hon. W. H. Drayton, esq., Commander of the ship Prosper.